The Meteorological office has forecast a heatwave in Bokaro, Dhanbad, Jamtara, and Dumka districts on Thursday and Friday. A yellow warning for thunderstorm, lightning, and gusty winds reaching 30-40 kmph has been issued for isolated areas in eastern Jharkhand on Friday, and for northeastern, southern, and central parts on Saturday.
Threat to Summer Crops
Experts have warned that the combination of intense daytime heat, relatively cooler nights, and thunderstorms with hail in some areas poses a significant threat to standing summer crops. Sanyat Misra, head of the Horticulture department at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) in Ranchi, explained that crops such as tomato, brinjal, cucumber, various gourds, and pumpkin are vulnerable to damage from rising temperatures and insufficient rainfall. If farmers are unable to provide adequate water, they may face substantial crop losses.
Water Management and Protective Measures
Abdul Majid Ansari, an associate professor in the same department, emphasized the critical need for proper water management. He recommended that farmers use shade nets over crops to prevent wilting. These nets are inexpensive and can reduce sunlight exposure by up to 50 percent. Additionally, Ansari suggested opting for heat-tolerant crop varieties, such as the local brinjal variety 'jethua' from Palamu, which can thrive in extreme heat conditions.
